We finally found the gem we were after, and my only complaint is why wasn't this restaurant opened sooner!!!!!! They deserve a million stars, 5 stars won't do justice!

It was a rainy Saturday evening, and we were shopping at Nordstrom when a signboard which read ‘Khazana by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’ caught my attention leaving me surprised and intrigued. Padma-Shri MasterChef Sanjeev Kapoor is an emotion who not only ignited a passion for cooking in all of us, but also instilled a huge respect for our Indian cooking techniques, an epic history, intricacies of ingredients and most importantly our rich and diverse culture. I was on cloud9 when I saw the restaurant was in full service and then a chain of thoughts at supersonic speed started hinting, so it’s under a mile from our home so I ought to start ordering from here, my weekends are sorted!!! Well, it didn’t take a second for us to decide that we are going in, yes without any reservation, without being dressed for the occasion, we just walked in.

We were welcomed by a cheerful lady who very kindly accommodated us without a reservation (it gets busier in the evening so would highly recommend reserving a table in advance). The first impression we had was “cool, they got the oomph factor” and I started mentally checking all the boxes off. The décor seems impressive, staff seem very warm, place looks hygienic, and it does set a perfect ambience for a mesmerizing evening, so we were all buckled up for the immersive and memorable experience this restaurant was about to offer!

We ordered Alphonso Mango Lassi which was very refreshing and did scream “Alphonso-King of Mangoes” in every sip! From the appetizer menu, we ordered Original Recipe Bhatti Murg Tikka, which was very well presented, was cooked to perfection, had that subtle “tandoor” flavour and was outstandingly delectable. There was a decent wait among each course which was appreciated by my spouse and I as that gave us enough to time to have a hearty conversation. From the main course menu, we ordered the Kaali Kadhai Chicken with Garlic and Chive Naan. The appetizer had set the bar so high that we had to dig in immediately when the main arrived and boy it won our palates and hearts!!!! The chicken was succulent, bursting with kaleidoscopic flavours, the spice level was to our liking and its match with the pillowyyy soft naan took the whole experience to another level. We ordered their Salan Murg Biryani to go as we were full to our hearts content but didn’t want to miss out on trying that. An Indian dining experience feels incomplete without a Biryani- fit for the king, innit!! When we opened the container, the aroma set the stage for an amazing gastronomic experience, we were about to dive in, and boy did each morsel tantalised our palate harmoniously!!!!! Chef Akshay Nayyar had cent percent delivered on-Taste, Creativity, Emotion, Appeal and Passion.

The servers had checked on us a few times throughout our meal and ensured we were enjoying it. When we sat there with satiated hearts and tummies, Tarannum very kindly shared the restaurant and Chef’s journey so far and introduced us to the Celebrity Chef Akshay Nayyar and we were so glad to share with him how his efforts resonated with our emotions, and he has already succeeded in creating a bond. I sincerely hope his creativity and innovation resonate with everyone and this restaurant is seen as an epitome of Indian cuisine and hospitality in Canada.

In a nutshell, we enjoyed our dinner at Khazana-Toronto by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, and it managed to put a sparkle to our evening!!!! My long review must have made it evident already!!

Decor: Treat for the eyes!!!! Food: Interesting modern take on traditional Indian delicacies!!!!! Must try: Everything we tried was scrumptious, so just go for it and maybe more!!!!! For all the courses: Taste, texture and temperature were perfectttt!!!!! Service: Exemplary!!!!

Cheers to many more such wonderful and memorable experiences :-)